Читать книгу Haunting at Remington House - Laura V. Keegan - Страница 22

A lofty tower of cumulus clouds glowed orange and crimson, their billowing edges turning dark gray with the hint of the coming night. Shimmers of color were reflected in the Atlantic. Far out on the horizon waves began their rhythmic ebb and flow and would soon render the calm waters turbulent.

A murder of ravens circled over the water, then landed in the boughs of a stand of beech trees on the bluff. The black birds’ resounding caws echoed in the heavy, humid air. It was twilight at Remington House.

Needing some time to relax and unwind before getting ready for dinner at the Harrison house, Tom left the house and walked along the shore. The early evening air was cool and brisk. A full moon, known as the Snow moon, was beginning to climb high, reflecting luminous silhouettes across the water. In the distance, the lights from a lighthouse illuminated the dark landscape in eerie, roving patches, its twinkling reflection sparkled in the moonlit water.

Tom remembered a night, some eight years ago, when Elise and he had been vacationing on the San Diego coast. She did love me then—didn’t she? They’d taken a blanket down to the beach one warm night to watch the full moon rise over the ocean.

“Darling,” Elise teased, her voice low and sultry, “show me how much you love me.” She seductively loosened the straps of her swimsuit, dropping them around her shoulders. She lay back on the blanket, pulling Tom on top of her, running her hands up and down his thighs.

They stared into each other’s eyes. Tom knew at that moment, his soul belonged to Elise. They made love again and again, the moon and stars their only witness. Tom was lost in the silkiness of her body, his needs insatiable. She’d laughed with wild abandon, loving to be so free.

Languid shadows momentarily covered them with darkness as clouds floated across the moon. From far out in the ocean, the peal of a foghorn, lonely and desolate, drifted in the gentle wind. The forlorn note invaded Tom’s mind, wrapping its cold fingers around his thoughts. “Elise,” he whispered in her ear, “I promise I will you love you forever. Will you promise to love me forever?” He held her closely, waiting. Her body felt helpless and frail in his arms.

“Of course I will, silly man,” she said flippantly, pushing him away and running naked into the crashing waves.

He ran after her, yelling, “You’ll catch your death, Elise. Come back!”

“Hey, Mr. Gardner, what are you doing? You’re getting your feet all wet! Hey!”

With a start, Tom whirled around. Jimmy was running down the beach toward him.

“Jeez, you scared me! I’ve been hollering at you and you didn’t answer,” Jimmy panted, trying to catch his breath. “What were you running after?”

“A ghost, Jimmy. A beautiful ghost.” Not wanting to frighten Jimmy, Tom put his arm around the boy’s shoulder. “Just joking, kid.” He could think of nothing to explain his behavior, thought it best not to try. “If you think it’s okay, come back to the house. It’s too early to go to your house for dinner. I still need to change. You can play the piano while you wait for me.”

“Yay! You better change your shoes too. They're all wet. Mother won't like that.” Jimmy grinned and ran up the cliff stairs ahead of Tom.